Closure cap for mounting on a liquid container

ABSTRACT

A closure cap for mounting on a liquid container includes a preferably reclosable pouring opening and a receiving element which, with the closure cap, forms a common receiving volume for receiving at least one dispensing body, e.g. a tablet. The closure cap can be opened to create an access to the receiving volume and to be able to introduce the at least one dispensing body into the receiving volume or remove it from the latter, wherein the receiving element is permeable to a liquid in order to allow the dispensing body received therein to come into contact with the liquid. The access can be closed in a leaktight manner or opened by a closure element, which is connected to the closure cap and is movable by pivoting or sliding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a closure cap, preferably a screw cap,for mounting on a liquid container, preferably a bottle, more preferablya PET bottle, wherein the closure cap comprises a spout opening,preferably a reclosable spout opening, and a receiving element, whichtogether with the closure cap forms a common receiving volume forreceiving at least one dispensing body, preferably at least one tablet,and the closure cap can be opened, thus forming an entrance to thereceiving volume in order to enable the introduction of the at least onedispensing body into the receiving volume or the removal of said bodyfrom the receiving volume, wherein the receiving element is permeable toa liquid in order to allow the at least one dispensing body to come intocontact with the liquid.

The present invention also relates to a dispensing body, preferably atablet, for admixing to a liquid disposed in a liquid container having aclosure cap in accordance with the invention.

The present invention finally relates to a system, comprising a closurecap in accordance with the invention and at least one dispensing body inaccordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In order to enable the intake of liquid on the road or during sports,drinking bottles are known, especially drinking bottles with a closurecap. The drinking bottles usually comprise a thread onto which theclosure caps are screwed. The threads are standardized and the number ofthe different standardized threads of said drinking bottles is low.These bottles can be prefilled on the one hand, e.g. with mineral water,which can also be mixed with flavors, or with an isotonic beverage. Onthe other hand, bottles can be concerned which are designated to receivea liquid mixed by the user as required. In this case, effervescentpowders in powder form or tablet form are available in addition to fruitjuice syrups.

It is disadvantageous in both cases that the user is fixed to thespecific beverage mixture for the entire duration of use of thebeverage, i.e. between the start and the end of the consumption of thebeverage, which means the user is no longer able to change the flavorduring the consumption of the beverage, because the liquid stillcontained in the bottle only comprises the once selected flavor.

However, not only the desire for a specific flavor can change during thestart and the end of the consumption of the beverage. If the user hasdecided on a non-isotonic beverage for example and wishes to have anisotonic beverage after a specific period of time in which the user haspracticed sports, this is also no longer possible with the liquid stillpresent in the bottle.

In the case of preparing the beverage by means of effervescent tablets,the use of chemicals for dissolving the effervescent tablet is required,which means the use of entirely natural substances for preparing thebeverage is not possible in this case, which can be regarded asdisadvantageous.

Incomplete dissolution of the tablet can be caused by sub-optimaldosing, especially an excessive concentration of the effervescent powderor tablets. Strictly speaking, maintaining the correct dosage is usuallynot always easy because the specifically existing quantity of liquidneeds to be considered in mixing the powder or the tablet with theliquid, which is usually water.

These disadvantages can be remedied at least in part according toUS2010/0012193A1. It describes a liquid container with a closure capwhich is formed in three parts, i.e. a tablet container, a container lidand a closure cap closure. The container lid must be screwed off andsubsequently screwed on again for the insertion of a tablet into thetablet container. It is disadvantageous that the container lid cart bedropped or lost.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a closurecap for liquid containers which allows admixing flavors and/or nutrientsand/or dietary supplements and/or medical compounds into a liquid thatcan be received in the liquid container by avoiding the aforementioneddisadvantages. One closure cap shall be provided for each of the fewdifferently standardized types of threads, so that any number ofdifferent types of bottles can be used with few closure caps. It shallbe ensured that during the insertion of a tablet no part of the closurecap or the closure cap itself can be dropped or lost.

In particular, simple handling shall be guaranteed, which allows asimple exchange of the flavors and/or nutrients and/or dietarysupplements.

Furthermore, it shall be easy to remove partly dissolved dispensingbodies from the bottle with the closure cap for example.

Furthermore, dosing problems, especially too high concentrations offlavors and/or nutrients and/or dietary supplements in the liquid, shallbe prevented. The possibility for avoiding chemicals shall further beprovided in this case, so that natural substances can be used foradmixing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects are achieved by a closure cap, preferably a screw cap, formounting on a liquid container, preferably a bottle, more preferably aPET bottle, wherein the closure cap comprises a spout opening,preferably a reclosable spout opening, and a receiving element, whichtogether with the closure cap forms a common receiving volume forreceiving at least one dispensing body, preferably at least one tablet,and the closure cap can be opened, thus forming an entrance to thereceiving volume in order to enable the introduction of at least onedispensing body into the receiving volume or the removal of said bodyfrom the receiving volume, wherein the receiving element is permeable toa liquid in order to allow the at least one dispensing body to come intocontact with the liquid. It is provided in accordance with the inventionthat a closure element connected to the closure cap is provided, bymeans of which the entrance can be sealed in a liquid-tight manner orreleased.

The closure cap preferably concerns a screw cap which fits allstandardized water bottles, or it is possible to use the low number ofdifferently standardized types of bottle threads with the low number ofdifferent closure caps. The closure cap is usually provided with amouthpiece which seals the spout opening of the closure cap and can betransferred from a closure position or closed position to a releaseposition or open position, preferably by displacing the mouthpiece. Inthe closed position, no liquid can pass through the closure cap via themouthpiece. In the operating position, the secure storage of the liquidin the liquid container is enabled with the closure cap in accordancewith the invention, even when it is transported or carried along by theuser during sports activities. In the release position, liquid can passthrough the closure cap and the user is thus able to drink.

It has been recognized that the closure element represents a simple andquick possibility to position a receiving body in the receiving volumeor to remove it therefrom. The connection ensures that the closureelement is unable to drop inadvertently. The user therefore will nothave to worry where to place the closure element while the closure capis open. Furthermore, the unpleasant situation that the closure elementwill drop on the floor and will thus become dirty can thus be prevented.The closure element can be arranged as the upper part of the closure capfor example which is simply folded away, or also as a door which isfolded laterally. The various possibilities for configuration have incommon that they offer simple and rapid access to the receiving volumeand the dispensing body can thus be changed, introduced or removed in arapid and simple way.

The opening and especially the closing of the closure element can beprovided in a simple and rapid manner without having to concentrate onthe process.

The receiving element is preferably formed as a flat surface. Thisrepresents an especially simple and thus inexpensive embodiment.

In order to prevent that parts of the dispensing body seal the spoutopening, the closure cap comprises a retention element which is arrangedbetween the receiving element and the spout opening, wherein theretention element is permeable to a liquid in order to prevent thedispensing body from reaching the spout opening. The retention elementcan be arranged integrally with the closure cap, or it can be connectedas a separate element to the closure cap. Permeability to liquids isprovided in this case, which can be realized by small openings, so thatthe dispensing body or still unresolved parts thereof are prevented fromblocking the spout opening. It is accordingly provided in a variant ofthe embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with the invention thatthe closure cap comprises a retention element which is arranged betweenthe receiving element and the spout opening, wherein the retentionelement is permeable to a liquid in order to prevent the dispensing bodyfrom reaching the spout opening.

A cost-effective production of the closure cap is achieved in a furtherpreferred embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with the inventionin that the receiving element is made of plastic. It can also beconsidered that the retention element is also made of plastic.

The permeability of the receiving element for the liquid is realized ina preferred embodiment of the liquid container in accordance with theinvention in such a way that the receiving element comprisesthrough-openings, which are preferably arranged in a lattice-like orgrid-like manner.

The permeability of the retention element to the liquid is realized in apreferred embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with the inventionsuch a way that the retention element comprises through-openings whichare preferably formed in a lattice-like or grid-like manner. It is thusfurther reliably prevented that the dispensing body or parts of thedispensing body reach the liquid container after drinking.

Potential contact of the dispensing body with the liquid already priorto drinking principally depends on the precise arrangement of thereceiving element in the closure cap. Contact can be prevented in thecase of a perpendicularly standing liquid container when the receivingelement is entirely situated in a volume formed by the closure cap. Thismeans the volume that is bounded on the one hand by the closure cap andon the other hand by an imagined surface area which is bounded on itspart by an edge of the closure cap. Said imagined surface area isactually free from material in order to enable the connection of theclosure cap with the liquid container, especially in order to enable itto be screwed onto said container. This means that in this case contactof the closure cap only occurs during twisting of the bottle, asperformed by the user during the drinking process. It is thusaccordingly provided in a preferred embodiment of the closure cap inaccordance with the invention that the receiving element is arranged inthe operating position in a volume formed by the closure cap.

In order to enable the optional e-change of the receiving element, it isprovided in a further preferred embodiment of the closure cap inaccordance with the invention that the receiving element is releasablyfastened in the closure cap.

It is provided in a further embodiment of the closure cap in accordancewith the invention that the retention element is releasably fastened inthe closure cap.

Slippage of the dispensing body can be prevented in that a circularboundary element which protrudes in the direction of the spout openingis arranged on the receiving element in order to prevent lateralslippage of the dispensing body in the operating state. Liquid thusflows evenly around the dispensing body from all sides.

The closure element is pivotable in a further embodiment of the closurecap in accordance with the invention. It has been recognized that thepivotable closure element represents a simple and rapid possibility toposition a tablet in the receiving volume or to remove it therefrom. Theterm pivotable shall be understood in such a way that the closureelement can be detached from the closure cap and can thus can be removedat least in part to such an extent that the resulting opening allowsaccess to the receiving volume in order to place a tablet in thereceiving volume or to remove it therefrom. Pivotable therefore meansthat the closure element can be deflected from the position closing theentrance in order to introduce a dispensing body for example without theclosure element dropping off, and can subsequently be brought back tothe position closing the entrance in a simple way.

In a further embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with theinvention, the closure element is connected by means of a hinge-likeconnecting element. The hinge-like connecting element can be a thin webor one or several fixed hinges or a flexible plastic piece or any othersuitable element. A hinge not only allows simple opening of the entranceto the receiving volume for example, but also offers a guide duringclosing which allows the user to avoid having to concentrate on theprocess of closing because the movement is guided by the hinges and itis merely necessary to apply an externally acting force in order toproperly close the entrance. The user therefore need not take particularcare how the entrance is closed, or that the user needs to position theclosure element in a specific manner on the other part of the closurecap.

In an embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with the invention,the closure element is formed as a part of the jacket surface of theclosure cap, wherein it seals the entrance in the operating position.The closure element can be formed as a flap, which can be foldedlaterally, upwardly or downwardly. This represents a simple and elegantsolution because it prevents the liquid from flowing out at the positionof the closure element in the closed state of the closure element andoffers access to the receiving volume in the open state in order toenable the rapid and simple positioning of a dispensing body, whereinunintended opening by specific situations is prevented. The closure capcan thus be provided with a reclosable mouthpiece, which is transferredfrom the closed state to the open state by a tensile force on themouthpiece away from the closure cap. The force required for thispurpose is calculated in such a way that the mouthpiece is notinadvertently opened by rubbing of other objects on the closure cap in abag for example. This fact leads to the consequence however that closureelements opening in the upward direction can inadvertently be opened bysaid strong tensile force on the mouthpiece, which is prevented in theembodiment of the closure element as a part of the jacket surface.

In a further embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with theinvention, the closure cap comprises two parts, wherein the first partcomprises the thread for fastening to a liquid container and the secondpart comprises the spout opening, and the second part forms the closureelement. As a result of the two-part configuration, it is especiallysimple to position a dispensing body on the receiving element.

It is possible that the transition from the first part to the secondpart represents a horizontal division of the closure cap.

In an especially simple embodiment of the closure cap, the closure capis formed cylindrically in the region of the transition. This representsa simple and thus also inexpensive embodiment.

An especially simple and comfortable filling of the receiving volume canbe realized in that the closure cap comprises an extractable storageelement for the dispensing body, which storage element corresponds tothe entrance and the receiving volume and which can be introducedthrough the open entrance into the receiving volume and can bepositioned on the receiving element, which means the storage element ispulled from the open entrance for filling the receiving volume, at leastone dispensing body is placed in the receiving element, and the storageelement is thus pushed into the receiving volume again via the openentrance. It is further advantageous with respect to this embodimentthat tablets which have already partly been dissolved in the receivingvolume can be removed more easily again for example.

In a further embodiment of the closure cap in accordance with theinvention, the second part comprises on its jacket surface a localdeformation facing inwardly in the radial direction of the closure cap,as a result of which a pressure is exerted in the operating position bythe local deformation on the first part and the two parts are mutuallyclamped against each other. The deformation faces inwardly in the radialdirection of the cylindrical receiving volume. It is thus prevented thatthe closure part is not additionally opened inadvertently in the case ofclosure caps with a mouthpiece which release the opening on themouthpiece for drinking through a strong pull on the mouthpiece.

A further embodiment of the closure element is that it is formed as aslide, which is displaceable along the jacket surface of the closurecap. The slide can be displaceable for example in the direction parallelto the longitudinal axis of the closure cap or normally to thelongitudinal axis in the circumferential direction of the closure cap.The slide can substantially correspond to a rectangular section from thejacket surface of the closure cap.

It can be provided in the configuration of the closure element as aslide that the slide is displaceable in relation to the closure cap byusing a profile rail. One or several profile rails can thus be providedin the slide on opposite sides (e.g. on or close to longitudinal edgesor transverse edges, per side, which profile rails extend in parallelwith respect to each other and are guided in depressions of the closurecap with a respective profile. It can conversely be provided that theclosure cap comprises at least two profile rails which are parallel withrespect to each other outside of the entrance, which profile railsengage in the respective depressions of the closure element. The profileof the profile rail comprises a taper for example in both cases, so thatthe profile rail cannot be pulled out of the depression normally to itslongitudinal extension.

A dispensing body, preferably a tablet, is provided in accordance withthe invention for accommodation in a receiving volume of a closure capin accordance with the invention in order to ensure simple handling andan optimal dosing possibility when using the closure cap in accordancewith the invention.

Accordingly, the use of a dispensing body, preferably a tablet, in areceiving volume of a closure cap in accordance with the invention isprovided according to the invention.

In order to ensure that the dispensing body can be accommodated in areceiving volume, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of thedispensing body in accordance with the invention that the dispensingbody has a dispensing body volume which is not greater than thereceiving volume.

In order to enable producing a beverage when making contact with liquidor to release flavors and/nutrients and/or dietary supplements and/ormedical compounds and thus mix them into liquid, it is providedaccording to a preferred embodiment of the dispensing body in accordancewith the invention that the dispensing body comprises at least onewater-soluble element for producing a beverage and/or for releasing aflavor and/or a nutrient and/or a dietary supplement and/or a medicalcompound. The nutrients comprise carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.If several carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins are released, theproduction of an isotonic beverage is thus possible.

If at least one dispensing body is arranged in the receiving volume, theliquid flows around said body during the drinking process and it is ableto release substances, especially flavors and/or nutrients and/ordietary supplements and/or medical compounds to the liquid, which meansmixing with the liquid occurs directly before the user actually drinksthe mixture. An excessive concentration of the desired substances in theliquid can thus principally be avoided.

Notice must be taken in this respect that after removing the bottleafter the drinking process a specific portion of the liquid willgenerally flow back into the bottle from the receiving volume. Aspecific proportion of the aforementioned substances can be transferredto the remaining liquid situated in the bottle, which needs to beconsidered in the configuration of the dispensing body or its dispensingcharacteristics.

In order to ensure a spatially stable arrangement of the water-solubleelements, which additionally contributes to ensuring that nowater-soluble elements can pass through the passage openings of theclosure cap, they are arranged in a sponge for example which fills thedispensing body volume at least in part. It is therefore accordinglyprovided in a preferred embodiment of the dispensing body in accordancewith the invention that the dispensing body therefore comprises asponge, preferably a plastic sponge. Said plastic sponge can be formedin an especially preferred manner in such a way that the liquid caneasily reach the water-soluble elements, which can be achieved forexample by a sponge fabric made of coarsely woven fibers.

In order to further improve handling, it is provided in a preferredembodiment of the dispensing body in accordance with the invention thatthe dispensing body comprises a liquid-permeable net-like fabric,especially gauze, which retains the dispensing body in a dispensing bodyshape which fits into a receiving volume. The thus stabilized dispensingbody shape especially also allows simple and convenient changing of thedispensing body even after the drinking process, once the water-solubleelements have already been dissolved entirely or at least partly.

Especially good stabilization of the dispensing body shape incombination with simultaneously simple producibility can be achieved inthat the net-like fabric is arranged on an exterior side of thedispensing body.

In order to avoid the use of chemicals and only use natural substancesfor the preparation of the beverage, it is provided in a preferredembodiment of the dispensing body in accordance with the invention thatthe at least one water-soluble element concerns a ball arranged in thedispensing body volume, whose surface is formed by a water-soluble layerand whose interior is filled with a substance such as syrup or tea,which contains a flavor and/or a nutrient and/or a dietary supplementand/or a medical compound. The water-soluble layer is formed in thiscase from a water-soluble icing, especially sugar icing, whichcontributes to the avoidance of chemicals.

The time progression of the delivery of the substances, especially theflavors and/or the nutrients and/or the dietary supplements and/or themedical compounds can be realized by several balls with different icinglayer thicknesses. The balls with the thinnest icing layer thicknessesrelease the substances first, whereas balls with thicker icing layerthicknesses do not release any substances yet. Only at a later point intime when the substances of the balls with the originally thinner icinglayer thickness have been consumed will the balls with the originallythicker icing layer thicknesses release the substances stored in them.

They can concern the same substances for example as before, so that atemporarily constant concentration of these substances is achieved inthe liquid. It is also possible to provide different substances in theballs, so that a beverage with fruit flavor is provided at first and anisotonic beverage at a later point in time. This allows athletes todrink different beverages over time by carrying along only one singleliquid container, wherein an isotonic beverage is also included in thiscase.

That is why it is provided in an especially preferred embodiment of thedispensing body in accordance with the invention that several balls withthe same substance or different substances are arranged in thedispensing body volume, wherein the water-soluble layers of the ballscomprise different layer thicknesses, especially in order to enablecontinuous delivery of the substance or substances.

Finally, the closure cap in accordance with the invention and the liquidcontainer shall be regarded as a system which allows simple productionof beverages or the admixture of flavors and/or nutrients and/or dietarysupplements and/or medical compounds to a liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained below in closer detail by referenceto embodiments. The drawings are exemplary and are used to explain theinventive concept, but shall not limit or reproduce the same withfinality, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of a bottle with a base body and aclosure cap in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap according to FIG. 1with a partly exposed section and with a receiving element attachedthereto and a retention element;

FIG. 3 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap according to FIG. 1in the open state;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a section of a local deformation of theclosure cap of FIG. 3 in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a section of a local deformation of theclosure cap of FIG. 3 in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of the closurecap in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap of FIG. 6 with openentrance;

FIG. 8 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap of FIG. 6 with apartly exposed section and with a receiving element attached thereto anda retention element;

FIG. 9 shows an axonometric view of a closure cap according to the priorart;

FIG. 10 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of the closurecap in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap of FIG. 10 in theopen state;

FIG. 12 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap of FIG. 10 with apartly exposed section and with a receiving element attached thereto anda retention element;

FIG. 13 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of a closurecap in accordance with the invention in a partly exposed, open state;

FIG. 14 shows an axonometric view of a tablet which is shownschematically with a partly exposed section and which can beaccommodated in a closure cap of the preceding drawings;

FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view through a ball of FIG. 14 which isfilled with syrup;

FIG. 16 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of a closurecap in accordance with the invention in the open state with a slide thatcan be opened downwardly;

FIG. 17 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of a closurecap in accordance with the invention in the open state with a slide thatcan be opened laterally;

FIG. 18 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of a closurecap in accordance with the invention in the open state with a slide thatcan be opened upwardly;

FIG. 19 shows the closure cap of FIG. 18 in the closed state;

FIG. 20 shows the closure cap of FIG. 1.9 from below;

FIG. 21 shows a vertical sectional view through the closure cap of FIG.19;

FIG. 22 shows the detail A of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 shows the closure cap of FIG. 19 from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a liquid container in form of a bottle 5, having a basebody 36 and a closure cap 7 in accordance with the invention. Theclosure cap 7 is shown in an operating position 8, in which the closurecap 7 seals a spout opening 9. The closure cap 7 is screwed onto thebase body 36 by means of a thread 34 (see FIG. 2).

The closure cap 7 is provided with a mouthpiece 33, which is shown inFIG. 1 in the closed position 11. In the closed position 11, the closurecap 7 is impermeable to a liquid 37, which is accommodated in the bottle5 or in the base body 36 of the bottle and has a liquid level 38. Themouthpiece 33 can be brought from the closed position 11 to a releaseposition (not shown) by displacing the mouthpiece 33 along alongitudinal axis 10. In the release position, the closure cap 7 ispermeable to the liquid 37 in order to allow the user to drink from thebottle 5.

The base body 36 of the bottle comprises inner walls 6 which togetherwith the closure cap 7 delimit a volume 4 in the operating position 8. Areceiving element 1 of the closure cap is arranged in accordance withthe invention in said volume 4, which receiving element forms a jointreceiving volume 20 together with the closure cap 7 for accommodating atleast one dispensing body 2, preferably at least one tablet. FIG. 2illustrates such an embodiment on the basis of an axonometric view of aclosure cap shown with an exposed section.

The receiving element 1 is fastened to the closure cap 7, preferablyreleasably attached thereto, and is formed as a flat surface. Thereceiving element 1 is thus arranged in a volume formed by the closurecap 7 in the operating position 8. The receiving element 1 makes contactwith the inner wall of the closure cap 7 at least in all points of acircular orbit. The tablets 2 (see FIG. 14) can be positioned on thereceiving element 1. A circular boundary element 16 (FIG. 2) preventslateral slippage of the tablet, which is contacted by the liquid 37accommodated by the bottle 5, especially during the drinking process. Abeverage can thus be produced or substances such as flavors and/ornutrients and/or dietary supplements and/or medical compounds can bedispensed to the liquid.

The closure cap comprises an entrance 12 in order to enable theinsertion of the at least one tablet 2 into the receiving volume 20 orthe removal of said tablet from the receiving volume 20. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure cap 7 comprises a firstbottom part 13 which comprises the receiving element 1, and a secondupper part 14 which comprises the spout opening 9 and a retentionelement 41, wherein a transition 46 of the second part 14 to the firstpart 13 is representative of a horizontal division. FIG. 3 shows thisembodiment in the open state.

The transition 46 divides the closure cap 7 into the first part 13 andthe second part 14 in FIG. 1. The retention element 41 is situated inthe second part 14. It is arranged as a flat surface in the illustratedembodiment, as also the receiving element 1.

A bulge 18 is arranged in the region of an edge 39 of the first part ofthe closure cap, which bulge extends along the full circumference of theclosure cap 7. A notch 19 is arranged in the region of an edge 40 of thesecond part of the closure cap, which notch also extends in a closedcircular manner along the second part 14 of the closure cap on its innerside. The innermost measured circumference of the notch 19 is greater byone-tenth of a millimeter than the outermost circumference of the bulge18, so that the two parts 13 and 14 tightly seal the closure cap in theoperating position 8.

A hinge-like connecting element 43 also connects the two parts 13 and 14of the closure cap 7 in the open state. The connecting element 43 allowsthe second part 14 to be folded up from the rest.

The second part 14 has a local deformation 47 on its jacket surface. Thedeformation 47 is under tension in the closed state (comparison betweendeformation in the relaxed state/tensioned state shown in FIGS. 4 and5), thus preventing the inadvertent opening of the two parts 13 and 14.Furthermore, the bulge 18 prevents the inadvertent opening in that thedeformation 47 needs to be pushed over the bulge 18 during the openingof the closure element 42, thus producing a resistance.

Both the receiving element 1 and also the retention element 41 comprisethrough-openings 15, through which the liquid 37 enters into or exitsfrom the receiving volume 20 at least during the drinking process andthus comes into contact with the tablets 2 situated in the receivingvolume 20. As can be recognized in FIG. 2, the through-openings arearranged in regular intervals, thus producing a grid or lattice shape.The through-openings 15 allow the production of a beverage or thedispensing of substances, especially flavors and/nutrients and/ordietary supplements and/or medical compounds, from the tablets 2 to theliquid 37.

FIGS. 10 to 13 show alternative embodiments of the closure cap 7 inaccordance with the invention, which can be screwed onto allstandardized water bottles, especially PET bottles, by means of thethread 34. A closure cap according to the prior art is shown in FIG. 9for comparison purposes. In order to help the user to unscrew and removethe closure cap 7, the closure caps 7 shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 have asurface structure 35 which is arranged in this case as fluting.Furthermore, the closure cap 7 comprises a cover 3 which is removable orcan be folded away, by means of which the mouthpiece 33 (as shown in thedrawings) can be covered.

FIG. 12 shows an axonometric view of the closure cap 7 of FIG. 10 with apartly exposed section and with a receiving element 1 in accordance withthe invention and a retention element 41. The receiving volume 20 has acylindrical shape.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. The closure cap 7comprises a closure element 42. In the closed state, which is shown inFIG. 6, it entirely seals the entrance 12, so that no liquid 37 canescape. In the open state 17 (shown in FIG. 7), the closure element 42releases the entrance 12 and thus allows inserting a tablet 2 into thereceiving volume 20 or removing said tablet from said volume. In thisprocess (see FIG. 8), the receiving element 1 is situated on the side ofthe closure element 42 facing the thread 34, while the retention element41 is situated on the side of the closure element 42 which faces themouthpiece 33.

FIG. 14 shows an axonometric view of a schematically shown tablet 2which is shown with a partly exposed section and which can be arrangedin a receiving volume 20. In the case of the embodiment of tablet 2which is shown in FIG. 14, it comprises a dispensing body shape 22 whichfits into the receiving volume 20. One condition which needs to befulfilled in any case is that a dispensing body volume 24 of the tablet2 must not be greater than the receiving volume 20.

In order to keep the tablet 2 permanently in the dispensing body shape22, the tablet 2 comprises a gauze 23 which is arranged on an exteriorside 26 of the dispensing body.

FIG. 14 further shows that the dispensing body volume 24 is filled insections by a plastic sponge 25. Balls 27 are also arranged in thedispensing body volume 24. The liquid 37 can advance through the plasticsponge 25 to the balls 27. The net-like fabric of the gauze 23 is alsopermeable to the liquid 37.

The balls 27 act as water-soluble elements in order to produce abeverage or release flavors and/or nutrients and/or dietary supplementsand/or medical compounds, so that admixing to the liquid 37 can occur.For this purpose, the balls 27 are arranged according to thecross-sectional view of FIG. 15. This means that each ball 27 has asurface 29 which is formed by a water-soluble icing layer 28, which ispreferably made of sugar. The icing layer 28 delimits an interior 30 ofthe ball and has a specific icing layer thickness 31. The substance tobe added to the liquid 37 is arranged in the interior 30 of the ball,especially flavors and/or nutrients and/or dietary supplements and/ormedical compounds. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the interior 30 of theball is filled with syrup 32.

The release of the syrup 32 or its mixing with/addition to the liquid 37only occurs when the icing layer 28 with the icing layer thickness 31has been dissolved.

The icing layer thickness 31 can be provided with different thicknessesin different balls 27, so that the dissolution of the icing layer 28takes different lengths in time. The time progression of the admixing ofthe syrup 32 can be arranged accordingly. Furthermore, the differentballs 27 can contain different substances in their respective interiors30 of the balls. Some balls 27 can therefore contain syrup 32, whereasother balls 27 provide other substances, e.g. to provide an isotonicbeverage after a specific period of contact of the balls 27 with theliquid 37.

Furthermore, the balls 27 can be provided with different sizesthemselves, i.e. they can have differently large diameters as indicatedin FIG. 14. In interaction with different icing layer thicknesses 31, itis thus possible to release different quantities of the substancessituated in the interior 30 of the balls (e.g. syrups 32) depending onthe duration of the contact of the balls 27 with the liquid 37.

It is finally also possible to arrange different substances (asexplained above, not necessarily syrups 32) in differently large balls27 with different icing layer thicknesses 31. As a result, the timeprogression of the admixing of different quantities of differentsubstances to the liquid 37 can thus be determined.

FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment of a closure cap in accordance withthe invention, where the closure cap 42 is formed as a slide which isdisplaceable along the jacket surface of the closure cap, namelydownwardly from the closing position (away from the cover 3) to the openposition. For this purpose, straight profile rails are provided on theinner side of the closure elements 42 close to the longitudinal edges,which profile rails engage in respective straight depressions 48 of theclosure cap 7 which extend in parallel to the longitudinal axis 10. Inall other respects, the configuration of the closure cap 7 issubstantially identical to that of FIG. 13, namely with respect to thereceiving element 1, the cover 3, the retention element 41 (not shown inFIG. 16), the thread 34 and the surface structure 35.

Mutually corresponding seals (not shown here) are provided on thetransverse edges (extension in the circumferential direction of theclosure cap 7) of the closure element 42 and on the transverse edges ofthe entrance 12, e.g. by means of sealing bulges on one part andrespective depressions on the other part.

The embodiment according to FIG. 17 substantially corresponds to that ofFIG. 16, but in this case the closure element 42 which is arranged as aslide is not displaceable along the longitudinal axis 10, but along thecircumference of the closure cap 7. Annular profile rails areaccordingly provided on the inner side of the closure element 42 closeto the two transverse edges, which profile rails engage in respectiveannular depressions 48 of the closure cap 7, which depressions extendnormally to the longitudinal axis 10, namely in the circumferentialdirection.

The embodiment according to FIG. 18 is very similar to that of FIG. 16,but the closure element 42 which is arranged in FIG. 18 as a slide isonly upwardly displaceable from the closing position. The closureelement rests on a stop of the closure cap 7 on the bottom side. Theclosure element 42 can thus not be pushed downwardly out of thedepression 48 as a result of gravity or incorrect actuation and beseparated from the closure cap 7. In order to prevent the closureelement 42 from being pushed out in the upward direction, a protrusioncould be provided on the bottom side of the closure element 42 whichupon reaching the uppermost (open) position of the closure element 42 isretained by a respective element of the closure cap 7.

The closure cap 42 comprises on its inner side (=the side facing theclosure cap) a respective profile rail 44 on the two longitudinal edges,which are guided in respective depressions 48 (grooves) of the closurecap 7. The profile of the profile rail 44 has a respective taperingportion in this case, which is engaged around by the profile rail 44,especially in an interlocking manner, so that the profile rail 44 cannotbe pulled out of the depression 48 in the normal direction to itslongitudinal extension. The longitudinal edges of the closure element 42in FIG. 16 and the transverse edges of the closure element 42 in FIG. 17could be guided and sealed similarly.

Since the depressions 48 are inwardly offset away from the jacketsurface of the closure cap 7, the outside surface of the closure element42 can be flush with the jacket surface.

The profile rails 44 and the depressions 48 seal the entrance 12 in aliquid-tight manner on the longitudinal edges of the closure element 42.It is shown in FIG. 22 that the upper transverse edge of the closureelement 42 is sealed by means of a sealing bulge 49 which is arranged onthe closure cap 7, extends in the circumferential direction and engages(especially in an interlocking manner) in a respective recess on theupper transverse edge of the closure element 42. The bottom transverseedge of the closure element 42 is sealed in the same way. The transverseedges of the closure element 42 in FIG. 16 and the longitudinal edges ofthe closure element 42 in FIG. 17 could be sealed in a similar way.

Limit stops or the like can be provided in all embodiments of FIGS. 16to 23 in order to prevent the downward sliding off the closure element42 from the closure cap.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 18 to 23, the receiving element 1and the retention element 41 are formed in an integral manner with theclosure cap 7 and are made of plastic.

It would principally be possible in all embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 13 and16 to 23 that the dispensing body is not placed directly through theentrance 12 in the receiving volume 20, but is placed in a removable(e.g. extractable, similar to a drawer) storage element which isintroduced through the entrance 12 into the receiving volume 20 and canalso be removed therefrom again. The storage element can come to lie inthe receiving element 1 or can also replace said element.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Receiving element-   2 Dispensing body-   3 Cover-   4 Volume-   5 Bottle-   6 Inner wall of bottle-   7 Closure cap-   8 Operating position-   9 Spout opening-   10 Longitudinal axis-   11 Closed position-   12 Entrance-   13 First part of closure cap-   14 Second part of closure cap-   15 Through-opening-   16 Circular boundary element-   17 Open closure element-   18 Bulge-   19 Notch-   20 Receiving volume-   21 Edge of the closure cap-   22 Dispensing body shape-   23 Gauze-   24 Dispensing body volume-   25 Plastic sponge-   26 Exterior side of body-   27 Ball-   28 Icing layer-   29 Surface of the ball-   30 Interior of the ball-   31 Thickness of the icing layer-   32 Syrup-   33 Mouthpiece-   34 Thread-   35 Surface structure-   36 Base body of bottle-   37 Liquid-   38 Liquid level-   39 Edge of the first part of the closure cap-   40 Edge of the second part of the closure cap-   41 Retention element-   42 Closure element-   43 Hinge-like connecting element-   44 Profile rail-   45 Jacket surface of the closure cap-   46 Transition-   47 Deformation-   48 Depression for profile rail 44-   49 Sealing bulge

1-30. (canceled) 31: A closure cap (7), preferably a screw cap, formounting on a liquid container, preferably a bottle (5), more preferablya PET bottle, wherein the closure cap (7) comprises a spout opening (9),preferably a reclosable spout opening (9), and a receiving element (1),which together with the closure cap (7) forms a common receiving volume(20) for receiving at least one dispensing body (2), preferably at leastone tablet, and the closure cap (7) can be opened, thus forming anentrance (12) to the receiving volume (20) in order to enable theintroduction of the at least one dispensing body (2) into the receivingvolume (20) or the removal of said body from the receiving volume (20),wherein the receiving element (1) is permeable to a liquid (37) in orderto allow the at least one dispensing body (2) to come into contact withthe liquid (37), wherein a closure element (42) connected to the closurecap (7) is provided, by means of which the entrance (12) can be sealedin a liquid-tight manner or released, wherein the closure element (42)is formed as a slide, which is displaceable along the jacket surface ofthe closure cap (7). 32: The closure cap (7) according to claim 31,wherein the receiving element (1) is arranged as a flat surface. 33: Theclosure cap (7) according to claim 31, wherein the closure cap (7)comprises a retention element (41) which is arranged between thereceiving element (1) and the spout opening (9), wherein the retentionelement (41) is permeable to the liquid (37) in order to prevent thedispensing body (2) from reaching the spout opening (9). 34: The closurecap (7) according to claim 31, wherein the receiving element (1) is madeof plastic. 35: The closure cap (7) according to claim 31, wherein thereceiving volume (20) has the shape of a cylinder at least in sections.36: The closure cap (7) according to claim 31, wherein the receivingelement (1) comprises through-openings (15) which are preferably formedin the form of a grid or lattice. 37: The closure cap (7) according toclaim 31, wherein the retention element (41) comprises through-openings(15) which are preferably formed in the form of a grid or lattice. 38:The closure cap (7) according to claim 31, wherein the receiving element(1) is entirely arranged in a volume formed by the closure cap (7). 39:The closure cap (7) according to claim 31, wherein the receiving element(1) is detachably fastened in the closure cap (7). 40: The closure cap(7) according to claim 33, wherein the retention element (41) isdetachably fastened in the closure cap (7). 41: The closure cap (7)according to claim 31, wherein a circular boundary element (16) whichprotrudes in the direction of the spout opening is arranged on thereceiving element (1) in order to prevent lateral slippage of thedispensing body (2) in the operating state. 42: The closure cap (7)according to claim 31, wherein the closure cap (7) comprises anextractable storage element for the dispensing body (2), which storageelement corresponds to the entrance (12) and the receiving volume (20)and which is introduced into the receiving volume (20) through theentrance (12) and can be positioned on the receiving element (1). 43:The closure cap (7) according to claim 31, wherein the slide isdisplaceable in relation to the closure cap (7) by using a profile rail(44). 44: The closure cap (7) according to claim 31, comprising at leastone dispensing body (2).